Empowering Associates with Skills: Walmarts Initiative to Fill 100,000 In-Demand Jobs

Last Updated on February 25, 2024 by Robert C. Hoopes

Walmart’s Live Better U Program Offers Associates Skills-Based Education Opportunities

Walmart’s Live Better U education benefit program has been making waves in the business world, providing over 126,000 associates with the opportunity to learn from top academic institutions and saving them nearly half a billion dollars in tuition costs. Launched in 2018 as a $1 a day education benefit, the program has since been revamped to focus on skills that can make associates more hirable for key roles within the company.

The retail giant’s goal is to fast-track associates into approximately 100,000 in-demand jobs over the next three years, including roles in salaried management, hourly supervisor positions, technology, Health & Wellness, and more. To achieve this, Walmart has shifted its hiring criteria towards skills-based qualifications and removed college degree requirements for the majority of positions.

The Live Better U program now offers over 50 short-form certificates and courses, covering areas such as frontline manager leadership, data science, and project management. Associates can also earn college credit by attending training sessions at Walmart Academy facilities, allowing them to quickly advance their careers.

Walmart’s new approach to the Live Better U program aims to fill in-demand jobs with talented associates at a higher rate, benefiting both the employees and the company as a whole. The retail giant hopes that other employers will follow suit in investing in education and upskilling programs to prepare for the future of work.

Overall, Walmart’s commitment to providing educational opportunities for its associates not only sets them up for success within the company but also highlights the importance of investing in employee development for long-term success in a rapidly evolving job market.